Home Page

Daniel Joseph Ficker was born on March 16, 1984 in Cleveland, Ohio. He died on July 4, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was 27 years old, and much too young to die. He was a wonderful and loving son, grandson, brother, fiance, and father of 2 beautiful children.

His life was taken too early by a Cleveland Police Officer as he waited for my son to arrive home on the evening of July 3, 2011. My son and his fiancee were at a family get together on Sunday July 3. They were at his fiancee’s cousins house. She is married to a Cleveland police officer. The police officer was not at his home at the time of the party. My son, his fiancee and their 2 young children were there for a couple hours approximately 3pm -5-pm. When they left there, they went to his fiancee’s mom’s house for a few hours. They left their 2 children there to sleep over. They stopped at a local bar on their way home. When they pulled in their driveway, right around midnight, there was a Cleveland police car in front of their side door. They live in Parma, so they were not sure why a Cleveland Police car was there. When they got out of their car, they noticed it was the police officer who’s house they had been over earlier in the day. He was “off duty”. There was another Cleveland Police officer in uniform standing out side of his car. They said there was some jewelry missing from the off duty police officer’s home, and for some reason began to accuse my son of taking it. My son said he did not take it. The next thing you know, the officer has my son against the back of the police car, and was roughing him up. My son was screaming for help. He was yelling so his neighbors would hear him. He was calling their names. His fiancee was arguing with the off duty officer, (who is married to her cousin). She called 911 (Parma Police) to get help. Then she heard the shot fired and saw my son laying on the ground. He was taken by ambulance to Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland and died at 1:40a.m.

This investigation is being conducted by the Parma Police. We want justice to be served here. None of this should have ever happened. My son should still be here today. He has 2 young children to raise, 2 grandparents that he took care of, an employer that he worked for as an auto technician, for almost 10 years, a big brother who his siblings looked up to, and a mom and dad that miss him dearly.

Danny was born in Cleveland and lived there until he was a teenager and then moved to Parma. He attended St. Thomas More school in Brooklyn, Ohio through 8th grade. He went to Padua High school for his freshman year and then attended Parma High School. This is where he met his fiancee, and the mother of his 2 children. He graduated from Parma High School in 2002. He took auto mechanics at Valley Forge (vocational program) and he became an ASE Auto Technician. He worked at Legend Automotive in Berea, Ohio for almost 10 years. He was the head technician and managed there. HIs customers loved him. He also had many, many, friends. He has known some of them since his school days. He would do anything for anyone. He was such a “giver” not a “taker”. He had a big heart. He lived each day to the fullest. He looked out for everyone. He did not deserve to die so young. He had so much more to give.

No parent should ever have to bury their child. My heart is broken into pieces and it aches every day. I miss my son terribly. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t cry. I drive by his work almost everyday, and just want to stop in and say “hi” like I always did. But then I realize he’s not there. I want to pick up my phone and call him like I always did. But then realize he’s not there. I look at my front door and wait for him to walk in. But realize he’s not going to anymore. My son lived life to the fullest and touched so many people while he was here. I am very proud to be his mother. May justice prevail. 143 Danny.

Just in case you were wondering what 143 means...it means I Love You. It was Danny's way of texting that to his friends.